ASH by Malinda Lo
September 2009

In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.
The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

REVIEW YYY 1/2

Not only is Ash a beautifully crafted lavish re-telling of Cinderella's story, but also a novel with an addictive flow of movement and characters you're heart will ache for. I was carried away into this fairy tale world of vivid imagery and magic that I did not want to leave and upon finishing.

As with any retelling the base compenents of this Cinderella story is the same but with some unique touches. One of the them is the relationship that Ash developes with Kaisa, their love story is sweet and quietly building while being passionate. And while their romance is not the main focus of this story as we would expect, it is beautiful to witness. The other unique facet to this lush story is of the fairy Sidhean and his realm for It adds another layer of enchantment to an already amazing fairy tale. At some point Ash has to make a choice between the two and with that she finds her strength while being true to herself and never giving up on the power to believe in magic and love.

This gem of a book is the ultimate testimony to the power of love and destiny. A definate read for anyone seeking a beautifully written fairy tale.